Winter Garden commission unanimously approves rezoning, annexation, budget amendment, solicitor rules and Back-to-School Bash

The Winter Garden City Commission on a regularly scheduled meeting unanimously approved a package of land-use and administrative measures, a budget amendment and a citywide special event, while opening public hearings on several items and receiving no public comments.

City staff presented and the commission approved Ordinance 25-13 to rezone about 4.71 acres on West Colonial Drive from C-2 (arterial commercial) to PCD (Planned Commercial Development) to allow four new commercial buildings, including a new Solomon's Auto Body facility. Staff told commissioners the proposal preserves as many existing live oaks as possible, requires a six-foot masonry wall and enhanced landscaping along the property’s north side adjacent to the Hyde Park neighborhood, orients garage bay doors to the rear of the new Solomon’s building, and will demolish the existing Solomon’s structure. "Staff recommends approval of ordinance 25-13," said city planning staff during the presentation. The commission approved the ordinance with a second public hearing and second reading set for 07/24/2025; the motion carried unanimously.

The commission also approved a three-part package to bring about 1.88 acres along Avalon Road into the city. Ordinance 25-18 annexes the property at 1150, 1158, 1166 and 1204 Avalon Road into Winter Garden; Ordinance 25-19 amends the future land use map to designate the parcels as city commercial; and Ordinance 25-20 rezones the parcels to C-3 professional office. Staff said the subject area includes two parcels with existing single-family structures and two vacant parcels; the applicant intends to convert one existing structure to a professional office as a first phase and could develop additional office space later. Any new development will require city site-plan review. Each Avalon ordinance was approved unanimously; the rezoning item (25-20) was scheduled for a second reading and public hearing on 07/24/2025.

The commission approved Ordinance 25-21 to amend the fiscal year 2024–2025 budget. Staff presented line items that included a General Fund amount shown as $3,348,406, a General Fund police impact fee of $140,000, a Utility Operating Fund adjustment of $500,000 and a Stormwater Fund item of $314,092. During the meeting one commissioner and staff noted the printed exhibit's numbers looked unusual; staff characterized the ordinance as an in-year adjustment and recommended approval. The motion to adopt the budget amendment with a second public hearing on 07/24/2025 carried unanimously.

Commissioners also approved Ordinance 25-22, a code amendment that revises definitions and procedures for solicitors and peddlers. Key changes explained by staff include expanding the definition of "solicitor" to cover those requesting charitable donations or conducting commercial surveys (while allowing religious and political canvassing), adding a ban on soliciting in public rights-of-way, requiring each individual solicitor to apply for a permit and be at least 18 years old, clarifying that nonprofit groups must obtain a solicitor permit (with a waiver option for the permit fee), and creating a city-managed no-solicitation (opt-out) list that will be maintained by the Winter Garden Police Department and made available online. The ordinance was approved unanimously and set for a second reading and public hearing on 07/24/2025. During discussion commissioners cited merchant and resident complaints—particularly from the north side of the city—about door-to-door solicitation and the use of minors to collect donations.

The commission also granted staff approval for the city’s annual Back-to-School Bash at Sanders Park on Aug. 2, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Staff said the event will repeat last year’s activities (water games, a foam party, the pool open and school-supply giveaways) and that city departments will manage road closures and provide police and fire presence. The special-event permit was approved without a second reading.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 25-13 (rezoning to PCD for ~4.71 acres on West Colonial Drive; permits retail, office, restaurants; Solomon’s Auto Body relocation; six-foot masonry wall and enhanced landscaping): Approved (unanimous); second reading/public hearing 07/24/2025. - Ordinance 25-18 (annexation of ~1.88 acres at 1150, 1158, 1166 and 1204 Avalon Road): Approved (unanimous). - Ordinance 25-19 (future land use map amendment to city commercial for the Avalon Road parcels): Approved (unanimous). - Ordinance 25-20 (rezoning Avalon Road parcels to C-3 professional office): Approved (unanimous); second reading/public hearing 07/24/2025. - Ordinance 25-21 (fiscal year 2024–2025 budget amendment; assorted adjustments including General Fund $3,348,406, General Fund police impact fee $140,000, Utility Operating Fund $500,000, Stormwater $314,092): Approved (unanimous); second reading/public hearing 07/24/2025. - Ordinance 25-22 (solicitor/peddler code amendments; individual permits, opt-out list managed by police, prohibition of soliciting in rights-of-way, nonprofit permit rules): Approved (unanimous); second reading/public hearing 07/24/2025. - Special-event permit: Back-to-School Bash at Sanders Park on Aug. 2, 2025: Approved (unanimous).

No members of the public spoke during the public-hearing portions of the meeting. Commissioners closed the meeting after brief expressions of thanks to staff and first responders for Fourth of July events.